The author has in her cup plate collection a slipware “proof” of the ship Cadmus. This was the first run of a new mold and served as a pattern from which to take orders. The iron molds were too much in use to show to prospective buyers and the little glass plates themselves too fragile and hence the proof of red glazed clay served the double purpose of showing necessary corrections in a new mold and giving the company a “sample” cup plate. These proofs are very rare as they seldom got out of the hands of the factory and were destroyed as new patterns were created to take the place of the old.
Plate I
THE EAGLE GROUP
[1.] Fort Pitt—Eagle in flight grasping arrows and olive branch, 24 stars scattered in background, ribbon from eagle’s beak with words FORT PITT. Edge peacock feather design, wings half folded. Issued to recall Washington’s capture of Fort Duquesne—renamed Fort Pitt.
A—Same serrated edge.
Rare.
[2.] Rayed eagle—Deeply serrated, edge with bulls eye in each scallop, 13 stars with rays on stippled field.